To Run to Seed 🌿🥀
Definition
“To run to seed” means to become old, decrepit, or to lose one’s prime and vitality, much like a plant that has been allowed to go to seed past its prime. These types of plants often become bitter to the taste if edible or fail to bloom well in subsequent years.
Origin
The term has its roots in gardening. When plants like daffodils or tulips are allowed to set seed after flowering, they become less vibrant, often bitter, reflecting a decline in the best qualities they once had. Famous author Henry Fielding noted this in an essay from 1740: “For Virtue itself by growing too exuberant and… by running to seed changes its very nature.”
Related and Similar Terms
- Past one’s prime: To be beyond the most productive or successful stage.
- Over the hill: To be considered too old or no longer able to perform well.
- Worn out: To be exhausted or no longer in condition to perform well.
- Long in the tooth: An expression to denote ageing.
Proverbs and Expressions
- “Age before beauty.”
- “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.”
- “Like fine wine, he gets better with age.”
Quotes
“Middle age is when you’re sitting at home on a Saturday night and the telephone rings and you hope it isn’t for you.” – Ogden Nash
Literature and References
- Books:
- “Winesburg, Ohio” by Sherwood Anderson
- “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde
- Movies:
- “Grumpy Old Men” (1993, dir. Donald Petrie)
- Songs:
- “When I’m Sixty-Four” by The Beatles
- Poetry:
- “Growing Old” by Matthew Arnold
Farewell Thought 🌠
In the journey of life, one must embrace every season—blooming in spring and gracefully cultivating wisdom in winter. Like gardens, our lives tell stories of vitality, change, and inevitable renewal. Always grow, yet know when to renew the earth for the next season’s bloom. 🌿
Enjoy exploring the passages of time and the colorful tapestry of language that depicts our journey!
